Over 6 Million Illegal Vapes Seized Across England in Major Crackdown

Newcastle, UK – April 24, 2025 The English authorities have succeeded in seizing more than 6 million illegal vapes, which authorities describe as one of the broadest crackdowns on the illicit vape trade throughout the last three years. National Trading Standards teams intensify their enforcement efforts before June 1st, when disposable vapes will become illegal.

Undercover operations expose hidden vape stashes

Senior Newcastle Trading Standards official Paul Leighton reports that illegal vape products are found inside hidden compartments, including behind walls and fuse boxes and also within home appliances. Paul and his colleagues investigated hidden stores by using pry bars while carrying evidence bags in their recent investigation of stashes discovered in abandoned backrooms under discarded boxes.

“These are not small-time operations,” Paul explained. “The networks are organised, often tied to other crimes like human trafficking or drug distribution.”

Health concerns and extreme nicotine levels

During inspections, Connor Lamb, who works as a licensing technician, identified the health risks associated with these non-compliant vaping products. Legal disposables provide users with approximately 600 puffs, which amount to 20 cigarettes. The nicotine content in seized illegal vapes equals smoking two hundred cigarettes inside each device.

“These products are not only illegal, they’re dangerous,” Lamb said. “Someone could unknowingly inhale extreme amounts of nicotine, risking severe damage to their lungs.”

Widespread issue across the country

Statistics from a Freedom of Information request indicate that 133 out of 136 English Trading Standards teams made vape seizures during 2022 and 2024. The data showed:

• 6,169,822 illegal vapes confiscated
• 7,594 test purchases uncovered stores selling illegal vapes
• 3,766 cases involved selling vapes to minors
• 316 shops were closed for selling illegal products
• 67 additional closures were linked to underage sales

A large number of illegal vape distributions occur in Hillingdon, Kent and Salford, as these locations consume a substantial amount of the total seizures. Officials have identified ports together with storage warehouses and distribution centres as important entry points that enable the illegal distribution of vapes.

New laws, new hope

At the beginning of June, the UK will prohibit all sales and distribution, and keeping of single-use vapes for business operations. Successfully combating vape distribution offences begins at the first violation that results in a £200 fine, yet multiple offences could lead to potentially unlimited fines and two years of imprisonment. The UK government dedicates £10 million to strengthen enforcement through the hiring of 80 apprentice enforcement officers to prevent illicit vape sales. Trading Standards will have the authority to keep more than just £200 of recovered fines for funding future prevention operations.

The fight isn’t over yet

Paul Leighton warns that the impending ban will have limited impact since millions of illegal vapes persist in the market. He explained that significant progress has emerged from their work, even though they continuously fight against vaping problems. The Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA) maintains support for enhanced enforcement against illegal vape retailers despite their belief that most vape stores uphold their obligations. The criminal element of organised crime operates within the disposable vape market, which provides vast financial benefits. The June regulations mean authorities expect both reduced healthcare threats and disruption to illegal criminal activities in the vape sector. News Source: BBC English